Did anybody have a water birth in hospital?

Water during labour is like slipping into a warm safe blanket in the middle of being whipped repeatedly in the artic. That's how it felt to me! I couldn't have a water birth as they didn't have a pool available so instead had to make do with the hospital baths during labour, but it made so much difference.I have a friend who had a water birth with her first and was so worried about not being able to get the pool during other pregnancies that she hired one for her home!

I’m not sure it does much for pain relief (I’ve not had a ‘on land’ birth) but the freedom of movement in the water was a help. You can still use gas and air. Lights are low and if it’s preoceeding well the mw leaves you alone for periods of time

Yes I did and it was lovely. I think it did help with pain in comparison with my first labour. I have fairly quick labours and was only in the pool 20 mins before he was born though so no time to be left alone as per pp! Getting out after felt like climbing a mountain though

I did, but once I was at the pushing phase it was making me really hot and bothered, so after some time pushing in there I got out and found that I was much happier on a big bean bag on the floor with a fan on me. It was nice to float about between contractions initially though

I had a water birth for my second and I would recommend it. But I wasn't able to for my first due to being overdue and then being back to back and finally having the cord round his neck. Nothing very dramatic, just the run of the mill birth problems that occur all the time, so I'd say go for it re the water birth, but be prepared psychologically to be told that you can't have it/have to get out if the birth isn't completely straight forward.

I used the pool ar the birth centre for my first. It was bloody lovely. In actual fact so bloody lovely that my labour and contractions slowed down dramatically and I was whipped out for a drip to get me going again.That said I still intended to use again for pain relief for the second but that labour was so fast I never actually got in the water...

You can find out how many pools your hospital has, but they can't guarantee it will be available. I was in the pool and had to get out so they could monitor blood loss. The contractions definitely felt more intense out of the water. You can always get in the pool and get out if it doesn't suit you.

Yes! Best birth i had! Also did the hypno birthing work and I went in to decline inductions the hospital at exactly 2 weeks overdue, had contractions while there, told the ‘expert’ who refused I was in labour and demanded examination.. I gave birth in the pool less than 2 hours later, midwives commented how in control and calm I was. Dd1 experience was horrific and I said never again, ds2 my first words were wow I could do that again. Personally it was miles apart but dd1 was particularly traumatic x

I had a similar experience to annlee3817. My labour went from nothing to contractions every 2-3 minutes really quickly. Got in the pool but found I got hot and bothered quickly. When the contractions came I really needed something to sit on or hold me up but there wasn't anything so I just kept hanging over the side and I found that really uncomfortable. I got out and lay on a bean bag but my DD got 'stuck round the u-bend' so I ended up pushing for over 3 hours. That wasn't much fun.

The midwives at my local hospital said that the birthing pool is actually really under-utilised so hopefully a good chance of you getting to use it, OP.

I had a water birth and I really enjoyed it, so much so that I’d be devestated if I couldn’t have another one next time (if there’s a next time!). It takes about 30 mins to fill but sometimes they’ll fill it when you’re en route and it’s just a lovely feeling getting in. It was my first so in terms of pain relief I don’t know the difference but I managed on gas and air. At no point did I feel too hot or want to get out! The midwife topped it up with warm water just before baby arrived. I was in there for about 90 minutes and in no way did it slow down my labour - I went from 4cm to delivery within an hour. I’d say go for it! Good luck x

I asked for a pool for a water birth, but I was so disappointed when I finally got in! I'd had to take off my tens machine and couldn't really cope without it. Maybe I was too late, but I got out when I could and had some nice pethidine and an anti-emetic instead. I wouldn't bother next time - sorry! Just thought it was worth sharing the flip side!